Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 88 Ava: By Her Side

After the awkward experience of a catheter removal, a few hobbling walks to the bathroom, a round of pain

medication, and an unappetizing dinner of salty yet tasteless beef broth brought to my room from the cafeteria

(which was little more than hot water and bouillon—but | digress), | fall asleep, with no word from Lucas,

watching the light wane from my window.

When my eyes flutter open again, the room is dark, with the faint hint of moonlight relieving the shadows.

There's the steady beeping of monitors and the muffled sound of activity in the hall, but otherwise, my room is

silent and still.

My heart's racing, but | didn't have a nightmare. Something prickles against my skin, an awareness of someone

in the room.

Lucas is asleep in the recliner beside my bed. His features are relaxed, the usual intensity gone from his

expression in rest. | study him in the low light, taking in the dark stubble along his jaw, the way his dark lashes

fan across his cheekbones.

Despite everything that's happened between us, his presence is a comfort and a balm to my heart, broken time

and tagain by the people who should lovethe most.

Here he is, keeping vigil by my bedside. The gesture speaks volumes, and | can't help but dream of a future with

my fated mate. A future I'd given up after that night at the Gala.

As if sensing my gaze, Lucas stirs, his eyes fluttering open. For a heartbeat, our eyes lock, and the world seems

to narrow to just the two of us. He smiles immediately, the kind where your eyes crinkle up and get small

because your cheeks are lifted higher than the sky.

My heart thumps hard. It's his fangirl.

"Hey," he says in that just-woke-up, groggy voice that should be a sin to have with a face that lovely.

"Hey," | respond, smooth as fucking butter. Okay. | really need to get my hands on sromance . | bet

the heroines in those know how to react when a hot man has his eyes on her.

"I heard you had a good day." He straightens in his chair, stretching out his arms, then his back. | watch every

movement like a stalker.

| can see his muscles rippling below the shirt hugging his torso. Why are shifter men so built? It's unfair,

honestly.

"I did," I say, pulling my eyes away with sreluctance when | see the satisfaction in his eyes. He's happy to

know I'm attracted to him, but I'm not ready to bring that dynamic into this equation. There's so much to talk

through, so much to deal with.

And—I'm just not ready.

| want to be ready.

But | know I'm not. There's too many secrets. | need Selene.

"I need to call my friend again," | say, changing the subject from my health. No one wants to think about their

possible future mate getting a catheter taken out. Gross. "I'm sure she's worried about me."

"Lisa? Yes. She's quite the friend. My phone has blown up with more questions than | have answers to. She

should be arriving in a couple more days."

"Arriving? Already?"

Lucas laughs, a soft sound as his eyes soften. "She's very motivated to see you, from what | can tell. In her

words, you ‘really freaked her out."

Hah. Yeah. | can see that.

The corner of my lip twitches. "She's a great person."

"I'm a little scared to have her visit."

"She won't do any damage." | pause. "Physically."

"Not physically, but..."

| tilt my head, thinking. "Have any single friends?"

His eyes shutter immediately. "Why?"

His word comes out strained, as though he's doing his best to be calm and polite and recognize that he has no

right to lord his possessiveness over me.

"Well, Lisa is a bit of a... butterfly?" I'm not really sure how to explain her. "Everyone tends to follow her around."

Lucas' bunched shoulders relax, and he crosses his legs, casual as can be, as if he hadn't been fighting some

base urges just seconds before. "Oh, | see. I'd hope my men are capable of controlling themselves around a

human."

I nod. "I'd hope so, too. She makes killer cookies."

"They're doomed."

His absolute deadpan delivery haslaughing so hard my abdomen aches. "Ow!" | groan through peals of

laughter, holding up a hand when Lucas stands. "I'm fine. It just—ow. Fuck. Okay.

Ow. Shit. Haha. Oh, man. I'm sorry. That was really funny tofor sreason."

"Because of cookies?" he asks, confused.

"No, just—oh, never mind." Wiping tears from my eyes, | readjust myself until I'm comfortable again. "It was just

funny, thinking of Lisa being the downfall of your pack, seducing all your men with a plate full of chocolate chip

cookies. That's all."

"I see." His quirked brow says he doesn't see at all, but that's okay. | don't need him to.

I sigh, leaning against my pillows. "When does she fly in?"

"Her plane arrives Wednesday at 9:07 a.m.," he reports, the information memorized. "I've already set her up in a

nearby hotel, and have a car ready for her if she needs one. She will be treated as an honored guest during her

stay, and if she wishes to stay long-term..." Here his words go hesitant.

"Well, we can help her with a transfer to the university in the city if she needs it," he finally finishes, looking off

to the side.

There's a faint blush on his cheeks. He's embarrassed. Is it from the actions he's taken to take care of her, or is it

because he's worried he went too far assuming I'm going to stay here?

Either way, | smile. "Thank you, Lucas. It really means a lot."

"Of course, Ava." He does meet my gaze now, the blush fading and his eyes direct and calm. "I told you before.

I'll do anything. | want you to understand how much | regret my actions before. | won't ever let you hurt again."

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